Boat protecting device



Jan. 2, 1951 H. H. JOHNSON 2,536,551

BOAT PROTECTING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1948 FIG. 1.

IN V EN TOR. HUGO h. JOHNS 04 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 'fiiNiTEil STAT rss re reat orrics BQAT PROTECHNG Dill/EOE Hugo H. Johnson, Soudan, Minn.

Application March 2, 1948, Serial No. 12,645

(Cl. Mil-@129) E 2 Claims.

This invention relates to bumper devi es, and more particularly to bumper devices for use on boats.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved marine bumper or fender for use on the sides and bottom of a small boat for protecting the surface of the boat against scraping or other injury in the event of contact with obstacles in the water with docks and piers, or with the shore when the boat is beached, bumper being very simple in construction, very easy to install and providing a very ellicient cushioning and protective action.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved boat protector or bumper adapted to be attached to the side or bottom of a boat or canoe for protectin the boat or canoe surface against abrasion Or other injury due to contact with obstructions or rubbing against piers, docks, or other marine structures, or when the boat is being beached, said protector being inexpensive to manufacture, durable in construction and inconspicuous in appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a boat bumper constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the boat bumper of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom View of the boat bumper of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a boat stalled thereon.

Referring to the drawings, the bumper elementis designated generally at H and is fo erably of molded rubber or similar resilient m terial. Bumper element ll comprises an elongated concave body portion i2 which has maximum width at its center portion and tapers toward its end portions, said end portions formed with apertured tab members it, 93. Depending from the bottom wall surface of body portion l2 are spaced suction cups it, the cups increasing progressively in size from the ends of body portion 32 toward the mid point thereof. Normally the bottom plane of the suction cups It is spaced a short distance below the bottom plane of body portion 52, as shown in Figures 2 and d.

In installing the bumper element, pressure is applied to the body portion 12 to flatten it out so that the suction cups I l are spread and the peripheral edge of body portion 52 abuts the surface on which the bumper element is being installed. The bumper element is fastened to said surface by wood screws or the like, shown at [5, engaged through the apertured end tabs l3, l3, as shown in Figure 6. Prior to installation the edges of the body portion 52 and suction cups I4 may be moistened to provide a vacuum seal within the body portion and the suction cups when the bumper element is installed as above described.

As shown in Figure 5, plurality of bumper elements l I may be installed along the gunwales of a boat iii, to protect the boat against collision or impact at the gunwales, and additional bumper elements H may be installed at the bottom surface of the boat to protect said bottom surface against abrasion or scraping by submerged objects, or by the ground when the boat is being beached.

The bumper device ii may also be employed to make emergency repairs, as to cover a puncture or fracture of the boat surface caused by collision with sharp rocks or the like.

While a specific embodiment of a bumper device for use on small boats, canoes, or the like, has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bumper device for boats comprising an elongated concave body member of resilient material tapering from its mid portion to its end portions and formed at said end portions with apertured tabs, said body member being provided with a suction cup secured to and depending from its bottom Wall at said mid portion, the bottom plane of the suction cup being normally extended below the bottom plane of said body member.

2. A bumper device for boats and the like, comprising an elongated concave body member formed of rubber-like resilient material and tapering from its mid portion to its end portions,

3 4 said end portions being formed with apertured REFERENCES CITED tabs adapted to recelve fastening member said The following references are of record in the body member being integrally formed with a plufile of this patent: rality of spaced suction cups depending from its under surface, the plane of the peripheral edges 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS of said suction cups being normally extended be- Number Name Date low the bottom plane of the peripheral edg f 863,124 Welton Aug. 13, 1907 the body member and the cups increasing in size 1,3 1,902 p t D 14, 1920 from the end portions of the body member toward 2,027,800 Whitlock Jan. 14, 1936 the mid portion thereof. 30 2,175,941 Keays Oct. 10, 1939 HUGO H. Grofi Jan. 7, 1 41 2,389,729 Howland Nov. 27, 1945 

